Butt end stitching machine

ABSTRACT

A butt end stitching machine adapted to carry-out sewing and cutting operations on fabrics and having a one-piece structure within which all machine operating components are arranged. A gun handle is provided in order to grip, direct and operate the machine. The operating components are arranged within the structure in such a manner that the handle lies on a vertical line extending through the center of gravity of the entire machine.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,797,424 Cerioni Mar. 19, 1974 1 1 BUTTEND STITCHING MACHINE 2.637.288 5/1953 Cerioni 112/169 x 4 [75]Inventor: Giuseppe Renzo Cerioni, Milan, 43'539 5/1969 scharmer'jr 2/169Italy FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73 Assigneez E C S'lLA" Milanltaly 597,681 5/1960 Canada 112/169 [22] plied: 1971 PrimaryExaminer-James R. Boler [21] Appl. No.: 187,952 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [52] US. Cl. 1. 112/169, 112/162 [57]ABSTRACT llllt. A butt end stitching machine adapted to carry out [58]Flew of Search 112/169 sewing and cutting operations on fabrics andhaving a 112/123 11 one-piece structure within which all machineoperating components are arranged. A gun handle is pro- [56] ReferencesCned vided in order to grip, direct and operate the machine. UNITEDSTATES PATENTS The operating components are arranged within the3.034.459 5/1962 Shelley 112/169 X structure in such a manner that thehandle lies on a 2.0131884 9/1935 Goldwyn et a1 1 12/162 vertical lineextending through the center of gravity of 1 De VOE! v 1 .1 1 the entiremachine 212L526 6/1938 Kucera 1 1 1 112/122 2,234 295 3/1941 Waldman eta] 1 12/220 X 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 1111111 mitt BUTT ENDSTITCIIING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns asewing machine of the type usually called a butt end stitching machineand adapted to join fabric pieces end to end by means of a sewingoperation performed on overlapped ends of the fabric pieces to bejoined, associated with a fabric cutting-off operation performedparallelly and at a given distance from the seam, the seam allowing asubsequent coplanar arrangement of the joined fabric ends.

These types of machines are well known in the art. Owing to a specialsewing operation to be performed, they comprise mechanisms widelydifferent from those of usual sewing machines and the sewing operationis performed by means of a needle associated with a needle bar andcooperating with two hooks or crochets to which a suitably timed andsynchronized reciprocating motion is imparted. The mechanisms furtherinclude a reciprocating blade shear and fabric feeding means in the formof a jaw and an opposite presser foot.

However, all known butt end stitching machines of this type are designedin such a manner as to operate in a stationary position, and to such apurpose they are always stationarily fitted on a worktable. Therefore,the fabrics to be sewn must be brought to the machine installation pointand then set and guided concurrently with the fixed direction of themachine feeding devices. Such requirements result in considerablelimitations to the machine operating capabilities and lead to notsubstantial difficulties, requiring skilled operators for conveying,positioning and guiding the fabric pieces. The above limitations anddifficulties are considered as unavoidable in the art and alsounavoidably associated with these machines.

As will be readily appreciated, the possibility to essentially avoidthese normal operating conditions, i.e. to have a butt end stitchingmachine of the stated type that can be brought and operated where thefabric pieces to be joined are located, or at any rate that can besuitably moved, positioned and directed, would be highly desirable. Suchhypothetical, desirable condition has never been considered asattainable in the art, due to conflicts thereof with mechanismassembling and operating requirements of the machines, even though itwould result in obvious great advantages, e.g., similar to those offeredby portable, electric sewing machines provided with a handle andtypically utilized for sewing the openings of bags. At any rate, itappears that heretofore not even the possibility of solving thetechnical problems related to a machine of the considered type that canbe gripped, conveyed and guided across the material to be sewn, wasconsidered, seemingly due to the fact that the machine structure,mechanisms and technical solutions inherent to sewing and cuttingoperations are sharply conflicting with such a possibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to solve theabove technical problems and consequently to provide a portable and handoperable but end stitching machine that can be gripped and guided by anoperator in order to operate the same independently from any stationarysupporting means thereof and which may be suitably positioned, directedand moved across fabric pieces to be joined.

The solution of above technical problems essentially involves adaptingthe machine structure to the desired new operating conditions,comprising machine gripping, supporting and guiding operations performedby an operator, as well as providing a suitable mass distribution tolocate the center of gravity of the machine on a vertical line extendingthrough the machine supporting point or points, and suitably designingconnection mechanisms between driving means (in particular a high speedmotor adapted to ensure a favorable power/weight ratio) and differentfabric sewing, feeding and cutting devices.

The solution of the above and further technical problems will bedisclosed in the following detailed description of an embodiment of thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a machineaccording to this invention, partially sectioned along differentlongitudinal planes to show the main components and mechanisms thereof.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same machine, partially cross-sectionedalong the plane II-II of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown, the butt end stitchingmachine comprises a structure mainly consisting of a suitably shapedhollow body 10, advantageously made of a light metal or alloy todecrease the machine weight and comprising a middle section 12, a lowerfore section 14, having a top surface 16 defining a fabric feeding plane(between a feeding jaw 18 and a presser foot 20), and a suitablyslanting upper fore section 22, wherein a needle bar 24 is slidinglyfitted. Body 10 is therefore approximately C-shaped when viewedsidewise. Under central section 12 the body has a gun like handle 26adapted to be gripped by a machine operator. Handle 26 has a recessin-the lower end thereof, wherein connection means 28 for an electricmotor feeding flexible cable are located. The motor can be started andstopped by means of a suitable switch (not shown) that may be operated,e.g., by a trigger 30 or other suitable means.

The machine must be gripped, conveyed and operated without undue efforton the part of the operator, and such features require the solution ofspecific tech nical problems related to a suitable mass distribution ofthe machine and consequently to the design of various mechanisms thereofin order to obtain a machine having a reduced overall size and weight,suitably balanced with respect to gun handle 26. The handle should lieessentially along a vertical line containing the center of gravity ofthe whole machine, when ready to operate.

To achieve such purpose, a casing 34 housing a rather heavy electricmotor (not shown) is fastened to a rear head 32 of body 10.Advantageously casing 34 supports a spindle 36 wherein a thread feedingspool may be fitted. The fore end 38 (FIG. 1) of a motor shaft, runningat a high speed, carries an input pinion of a reduction gear unit 40adapted to carry-out a required angular speed reduction. A machine mainshaft 44 is driven by an outlet gear 42 of reduction unit 40.

mechanisms unavoidably and at least partly exposed to the outside. I

As is well known, a butt endstitching machine requires a needle bar 24and means to operate a feeding jaw 18, as well as at least two hooks(not shown) reciprocally driven along a circular path about axes asdefined by pins 48 and 50. Further, a cutter 52 reciprocally driven in avertical plane is provided, together with the above mechanisms, withinthe machine fore sections 14 and 22. ln order to suitably backwardlyshift the center of gravity of the machine such operating componentshave driving means therefor embodying technical solutions widelydifferent from conventional ones.

In particular, needle bar 24 is connected by a short connecting rod 54with a long lever 56 pivotably fitted on an inclined pin 58. One arm 60of lever 60 is connected by a ball joint 62 with a connecting rod 64,the other end 66 thereof cooperating with an eccentric keyed on mainshaft 44 at a point close to gearbox 46. A short, crosswise extendingshaft 70, whereon two eccentrics 72 are keyed, is driven by the samemain shaft 44 through two gears 68. Eccentrics 72 control hook pins 48and 50 through relatively long connecting rods 74,76 and levers 78,80,respectively. Shaft 44 further controls an eccentric 82 adapted toimpart a reciprocating motion to an element 88, carrying cutter 52,through a connecting rod 84 and a second lever 86. Shaft 44 extends thenforwardly to control a cam and eccentric assembly 90 that operates asupport 92 of jaw 18.

Thus, these mechanisms (or other equivalent ones) reliably perform thedifferent cutting and sewing operations and ensure a balancing of themass of the machine with respect to gun handle 26 within the machinelongitudinal plane (i.e. the plane of H6. 1) by means of the structureand component distribution thereof. These conditions are necessary butnot sufiicient for a complete balancing of the mass of the machine intridimensional space, and therefore this invention further comprises thesolution of technical problems related to attainment of equilibriumconditions also in a plane extending crosswise through the center ofgravity.

Such solution may be attained, e.g., by a mass and device distributionas shown in FIG. 2. The top portion of central section 12, wherein lever56 and pin 58 are housed, is slanted in a direction opposite to themachine side wherein fabrics to be joined are fed in a direction A, onthe working plane 16 and by means of feeding jaw 18. Thismass-distribution ensures an easy fabric feeding operation andengagement between jaw and presser foot 20. The weight of the devicesthat drive the lower sewing members is balanced by the weight of theelements in the slanting section 12 in such a manner that the-machinecenter of gravity essentially lies in a vertical plane through the axisof main shaft 44. The motor 34 is co-axial with main shaft 44 and thegun handle 26 is fastened to body in a laterally shifted position withrespect thereto and essentially in the vertical plane through shaft 44.Presser foot is in turn vertically adjustable by means of a double leversystem able mass distribution with respect to the gun handle ismaintained. Moreover, the entire weight of the machine need notnecessarily be supported through the handle and the hand of theoperator, since a shoulder strap system or even a movably supportedextensible tie tod may be provided. At any rate, such strap or tie-rodmeans must not affect the machine guiding, directing and positioningfeatures with respect to worked fabrics by means of the gun handle.

I claim:

I. A portable, hand-operated and hand-held butt end stitching machine ofthe type wherein fabric pieces may be joined end-to-end by firststiching together with loose butt end chain stitches two overlapped endsof fabric pieces while simultaneously cutting the overlapped ends alonga line parallel to the line of stitching, and then rotating one of thefabric pieces about the cut line to arrange the fabric pieces coplanarand end-toend, said machne comprising:

an elongated housing structure having at a first end thereof ahorizontal planar fabric feeding surface, said housing structureextending in a direction orthogonal to the direction of fabric feeding;

a drive motor attached to a second end of said housing structure andhaving a drive shaft extending from said motor longitudinally into saidhousing structure;

a main shaft having a first end operatively connected to said motordrive shaft, said main shaft extending longitudinally through saidhousing structure and having a second end positioned adjacent said firstend of said housing structure;

needle bar means having a needle mounted above said fabric feedingsurface adjacent said first end of said housing structure;

first eccentric and lever means interconnected between said needle barmeans and said main shaft for reciprocating said needle toward and awayfrom said fabric feeding surface;

first and second hook means mounted below said fabric feeding surfaceadjacent said first end of said housing structure;

second eccentric and lever means interconnected between said main shaftand said first and second hook means for reciprocating said first andsecond hook means beneath said fabric feeding surface;

a cutting means mounted adjacent said fabric feeding surface;

third eccentric and lever means interconnected between said cutter meansand said main shaft for reciprocating said cutter means upwardly anddownwardly;

there thus being a center of gravity of said machine locatedapproximately midway of the longitudinal length thereof, said center ofgravity being laterally offset to one side of said housing structurefrom a vertical plane longitudinally extending through and equallydividing said housing structure;

a gun-type handle attached to the bottom of said housing structure on avertical line passing through said center of gravity;

said drive motor, said main shaft, and said handle being offset to saidone side of said housing structure;

said first and second hook means, said second eccentric and lever means,said cutting means, and said third eccentric and lever means beingoffset and positioned in the lateral side of said housing strucabove andadjacent said opposite lateral side of ture opposite said one sidethereof; and said housing structure to a position above and said needlebar means and said first eccentric and spaced from said one side of saidhousing structure.

lever means are slanted upwardly from a position

1. A portable, hand-operated and hand-held butt end stitching machine ofthe type wherein fabric pieces may be joined end-toend by first stichingtogether with loose butt end chain stitches two overlapped ends offabric pieces while simultaneously cutting the overlapped ends along aline parallel to the line of stitching, and then rotating one of thefabric pieces about the cuT line to arrange the fabric pieces coplanarand end-to-end, said machne comprising: an elongated housing structurehaving at a first end thereof a horizontal planar fabric feedingsurface, said housing structure extending in a direction orthogonal tothe direction of fabric feeding; a drive motor attached to a second endof said housing structure and having a drive shaft extending from saidmotor longitudinally into said housing structure; a main shaft having afirst end operatively connected to said motor drive shaft, said mainshaft extending longitudinally through said housing structure and havinga second end positioned adjacent said first end of said housingstructure; needle bar means having a needle mounted above said fabricfeeding surface adjacent said first end of said housing structure; firsteccentric and lever means interconnected between said needle bar meansand said main shaft for reciprocating said needle toward and away fromsaid fabric feeding surface; first and second hook means mounted belowsaid fabric feeding surface adjacent said first end of said housingstructure; second eccentric and lever means interconnected between saidmain shaft and said first and second hook means for reciprocating saidfirst and second hook means beneath said fabric feeding surface; acutting means mounted adjacent said fabric feeding surface; thirdeccentric and lever means interconnected between said cutter means andsaid main shaft for reciprocating said cutter means upwardly anddownwardly; there thus being a center of gravity of said machine locatedapproximately midway of the longitudinal length thereof, said center ofgravity being laterally offset to one side of said housing structurefrom a vertical plane longitudinally extending through and equallydividing said housing structure; a gun-type handle attached to thebottom of said housing structure on a vertical line passing through saidcenter of gravity; said drive motor, said main shaft, and said handlebeing offset to said one side of said housing structure; said first andsecond hook means, said second eccentric and lever means, said cuttingmeans, and said third eccentric and lever means being offset andpositioned in the lateral side of said housing structure opposite saidone side thereof; and said needle bar means and said first eccentric andlever means are slanted upwardly from a position above and adjacent saidopposite lateral side of said housing structure to a position above andspaced from said one side of said housing structure.